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Exhibits & News
Major Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibits Print E-mail

 

"Lincoln and New York" at the New-York Historical Society, New York, NY.

Through March 25, 2010  
"Abraham Lincoln-the quintessential westerner-owed much of his national political success to his impact on the eastern state of New York-and, in turn, New York's impact on him. This exhibition of original artifacts, iconic images, and hand-written period documents, many in Lincoln's own hand, will for the first time fully trace the evolution of Lincoln's relationship with the nation's largest and wealthiest state: from the time of his triumphant Cooper Union address here in 1860, to his efforts to hold the Union together in 1861, to the early challenges of recruitment and investment in the Civil War, to the development of new military technologies, and the challenge to civil liberties in time of rebellion. Lincoln's evolving stance on slavery issues alternately pleased and infuriated New Yorkers. African-Americans, many of them veterans of the anti-slavery movement and Underground Railroad activism, saw Lincoln as slow to deal with the numerous slaves escaping during the war. These "contraband" forces clamored to join the Union army which for several years excluded colored troops - be they free men or the newly freed. Meanwhile free black New Yorkers readied volunteer regiments.

New York's role as the Union's prime provider of manpower, treasure, media coverage, image-making, and protest, some of it racist-the 1863 Draft Riots and the robust effort to unseat Lincoln in 1864-will be traced alongside Lincoln's concurrent growth as a leader, writer, symbol of Union and freedom, and ultimately as national martyr. Through all, from political parades to funeral processions, as this show will demonstrate, New York played a surprisingly central role in the Lincoln story-and Lincoln became a leading player in the life of New York. This exhibition commemorates the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. A catalog has been published to accompany the exhibit."
                [From New-York Historical Society]

Seth Kaller, Inc. is honored to have lent to Lincoln in New York a unique Civil War banner, designed by Emanuel Leutze and manufactured by Tiffany and Company.  The banner commemorates Dix's famous 1861 order: "IF ANYONE ATTEMPTS TO HAUL DOWN THE AMERICAN FLAG, SHOOT HIM ON THE SPOT." It was presented to Dix in 1864 at the New York Sanitary Commission Fair, which supported the Union war effort.

We are also happy to have arranged the loan from a private collector of Lincoln's authorization to General John Dix to suspend habeas corpus and impose martial law in New York. (Dix arrived just after the draft riots ended.  He kept this authority "in his pocket," and it wasn't known to historians until Dix's family sold it only a few years ago.

Finally, we are proud to have acquired for the Gilder Lehrman Collection on deposit at the New-York Historical Society many of the documents in the exhibit. 


John Brown: The Abolitionist and His Legacy.
Through March 25, 2010

We are proud to have acquired for the Gilder Lehrman Collection on deposit at the New-York Historical Society the documents in the John Brown exhibit.  A highlight of the exhibit is Brown's letter to Mary Stearns, written three days before his execution. He asks to be "spared from having any mock; or hypocritical prayers made over me, when I am publicly murdered: & that my only religious attendants be poor little, dirty, ragged, bare headed & barefooted, Slave Boys; & Girls led by some old gray headed Slave Mother...Farewell. Farewell." 

 

Other important Lincoln Links

The Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Mr. Lincoln and New York

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The National Constitution Center's America I AM: The African American Imprint

"Abraham Lincoln in His Own Words: an Intimate View of Our Greatest President." at the NY Historical Society, New York, NY.

"The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden." at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

"Abraham Lincoln in New York: A Rail Splitter Bicentennial Celebration" at Federal Hall in New York City.

 
Exhibit at The Rivalry By Norman Corwin. Print E-mail

Friday Nov 13 @ 8 pm, Saturday Nov 14 @ 3 pm & 8 pm
The Emelin Theatre 153 Library Lane, Mamaroneck, NY 10543 $40

The Rivalry By Norman Corwin. Directed by Vincent Dowling.
In 1858, two extraordinary men shared a podium to debate issues that would rock the world. In The Vincent Dowling Theatre Company's production of The Rivalry, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, the nation's most charismatic orators, tackle these historic debates with a fervor and energy which hypnotized the nation in an era before political passion and belief meant a compromise of manners and integrity. For more information, see: http://therivalry.org/

"...to feel truly on the brink of something momentous, try a trip back to 1858..."
 "...turns history into compelling theater."  -Neil Genzlinger, New York Times


In conjunction with the show, Seth Kaller, Inc. will host a preview exhibit of important original Lincoln documents and artifacts. Kaller's catalog, Abraham Lincoln: We are Gaining Strength, is due out on November 19, 2009.

The exhibit will include:

" Legal documents from 1839 signed by both Lincoln and law partner John T Stuart, who had his own run- in with Douglas (Stuart grabbed Douglas by the neck, and bit Stuart's thumb half off).  ($9,500)

" Lincoln's 1843 letter asking to be considered for Congress ($95,000)

" Lincoln Fighting Slavery - Supporting his Best Man for Congress, and doing all in his power to oppose the Dred Scott Decision  ($225,000)

" The Lincoln-Grimsley Trunk. Just before setting off to begin his presidency, Lincoln deposited his personal effects in this trunk, and left it with Mary's cousin in Springfield.  ($95,000)

" Lincoln signed military commission ($9,500)

" A page in his Lincoln's own hand from his final State of the Union Address:
"We are gaining strength…"  (price on request)

" Lincoln's Pardon of a murderous mutineer ($16,000); Lincoln signed whaling ship's paper for a Martha's Vinyard Whaler ($24,000)

" Lincoln's "dividers," the tool he used to plot troop movements on maps during the Civil War, accompanied by Robert Todd Lincoln's May 1865 letter giving this unique relic to Thomas Eckert, a close Lincoln associate. ($350,000)

" Mourning broadside, featuring Lincoln's "Tribute to the Declaration of Independence" Lewiston, Illinois, August 17, 1858, one of the seven Lincoln Douglass debates. ($2,500)

" Original Harper's Weekly illustrated newspapers, including Lincoln's inauguration, the Emancipation Proclamation, reports on the assassination, etc. (from $100- $625)

 
Seth Kaller in the News - Articles of Note Print E-mail

A Declaration from the Telegram
 

U.S. Buyer Snags 1622 Contract for "Canada's Mayflower"
Halifax Daily News, 06/22/07

Click Here to read article (.PDF Format)

National Constitution Center Obtains Rare
Emancipation Proclamation, Signed by Lincoln
Press Release, 02/8/07

Click Here to read article (.PDF Format)

 

New Kaller Exhibition Opens at Scarsdale Historical Society:
"Lincoln, Slavery, Civil War"
Press Release, 02/1/07

Click Here to read article (.PDF Format)

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